Earth anchor



y 1941- D. E. WILLARD EARTH ANCHOR Filed July 15, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet r z 5 2 2 M w u w M, Z N z J I m 2 W lllll I 25 ZZ i Jxau for.

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J ly 8, 1 1. D. WILLARD 2.248.320

I EARTH ANCHOR Filed m 15, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .M QM

Patented July 8, 1941 2,248,320 EARTH ANCHOR Donald E. Willard, Danville, 111., assignor to Allith-Prouty, Inc., Danville, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application July 15, 1939, SerialNc'. 284,619

12 Claims.

My invention relates to earth anchors and more particularly to anchors of the extensible type which are inserted in an earth pocket while in collapsed conditionand the fiukes thereafter extended for anchorage in the soil.

One object ofmy invention is to devise an earth anchor of simple, rugged and inexpensive construction, and composed of a number of sheet metal parts that may be easily assembled by a few welding operations.

A further object is to provide an anchor in which insertion of the flukes in the soil is facilitated by providing each fluke with a knife-like entering edge.

A further object is to provide an. earth anchor of the character indicated whose general design obviates any necessity for pivotal or knuckle connections between the flukes and spreader arms.

These and further objects of my invention will be set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and the novel means by which said objects are efiectuated will be definitely pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved anchor showing the fiukes in retracted position.

Fig. 2 is-a plan view of the anchor looking in the direction of the arrow 2 in Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary elevations looking in the directions of the arrows 3 and 4, respectively, in Fig. 2.

Fig, 5 is a sectional elevation of the anchor taken on line 55 in Fig; 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. I I

I Fig. 6 is a section similar to that illustrated in Fig. 5; but showing. the anchor in expanded condition.

Fig. 7 is a plan view oi one of the spreader arms before bending into. the shape. illustrated inFig.5; f I

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the base member as it appears in Fig; 1. V

Fig. 91s a plan view of the blank from which the base member is formed into the shape illustrated in elevation in Fig; 8 and, in section, in

Fig. 5i I Fig, 10 is a plan view of the lower fluke as viewed in Fig. 5. I

' Referring to Fig. l, the numeral l designates the base'member of thean'chorwhi'ch supports in superimposed relation a series of flukes [1,. l2 and it. These flukes are shifted laterally by spreader arms M, l-and 16', respectively; which are mechanically related to the usual guy rod I! whose lower end is connected to the plate H). To the extent indicated, my improved anchor bears some similarity to anchors heretofore made, but differs therefrom, generally speaking, in the use of sheet metal for making all parts of the anchor except the guy rod I7, and connecting these parts by simple, welding operations.

The base member I!) is made from a flat, circular blank it of sheet metal having a central aperture is for receiving the guy rod I1, a slot 20 cut inwardly from the periphery of the blank and which eventually forms a guide slot for the lower fluke oi the assembly, and tongues 2| and 22 having different heights measured radially on the blank and which extend radially outward from the periphery of the blank. For the threefluke anchor illustrated, the slot 20 and tongues 2| and 22 are equispaced around the blank. It will be understood that a larger or smaller number of flukes than those hereinafter described will necessitate a different number of tongues and a corresponding change in the relative positions of the tongue or tongues and the slot 20, although, in each case, one slot 2!! is required. For example, in a two-fluke anchor, the blank I 8 would be out with one slot and one tongue located at the opposite ends of a diameter of the blank, while, in a four-fluke anchor, one slot and three tongues of different heights would be employed, the slot and tongues, respectively, being equispaced around the blank.

After the blank is has been cut to the shape illustrated in Fig. 9, it is then dished, as generally indicated by the numeral 23' in Fig.5, toform the base member and thus increase its strength. The wall of the aperture l9-is drawn to form an annular flange 24, while the periphery of'the blank is similarly drawn to form ana nnular flange 25" with the slot 20 facing'upwardly and the tongues 2| and 22 extending upwardly, as generally indicated in-Fig. 8.

A shouldered sleeve 26 is inserted'withinthe flange 24 to receive the lower end of the guyrod ll which may be headed as at Z'Ito prevent its upward movement, j

' Each of the flukes may be formed from asheet metal disk having a diameter approximately equal to that of the base member and in which a'pair of spaced, right-angled'notches 23 are cut to form the battle axe shape shown in Fig. 10 which more particularly illustrates the lower fluke H. In detail, each fluke comprises a' segment 29 whose peripheral edge constitutes'the soil cutting or entering edge of the'fiuke' and from the segment extends a portion 30 which is symmetrically disposed about the principal diameter of the fluke. An elongated slot, 3| is cut in each fluke intermediate the parallel sides of the portion 30 and the major portion of the slot is disposed in the portion 30. This slot is intended to receive the sleeve 26 in the manner hereinafter explained. Each of the fiukes is made in the foregoing manner, but the lower fluke II has welded to the underside of the segment a guide rib 32 that is aligned with the slot 3| and which possesses a length such that it always engages the guide slot 23, whether the flukes are expanded or retracted.

The shifting of the flukes is accomplished by the spreader arms I4, I and It, all of which are alike and formed from sheet metal. In plan view, before bending to assume the shape illustrated in Fig. 5, each spreader arm comprises an eye 33 at one end and closely adjacent is reduced to form a neck 34, while the opposite end constitutes a head 35 whose width may be equal to that of the intermediate portion of the arm and closely adjacent the head is a neck 36 similar to the neck 34.

Before assembling, each of the spreader arms is bent in the neck locations to the shape illustrated in Fig. 5 and the respective eyes 33 of the arms are superimposed and aligned by a bushing 3! through which the guy rod l7 extends. Further, the spreader arm eyes are secured against relative movement, whether endwise or rotationally, by welds 38. The lower end of each spreader arm is welded, as at 39, to its respective fluke, it being understood that the three spreader arms are equispaced around the guy rod with a corresponding positioning of the, several iiukes whose notches 28 provide the required clearance for attaching the lower ends of the several spreader arms. The flukes are arranged in the stacked relation'shown in Fig. 5, with the lower fluke l-l resting directly on the base member and being guided thereby through the medium of the rib 32 and slot 20, while the flukes l2 and I3 are partially supported by the tongues 2! and 22, respectively, and particularly during the expanding movement of the flukes.

My improved anchor is employed in the usual manner, i. e., a hole is dug whose diameter is about equal to that of the base member I0. The anchor is then inserted in the hole with the base member resting on the bottom of the hole and a tamping bar is driven against the head provided by the welded eye portions of the spreader arms to move the head to the position illustrated in Fig. 6 and thus efiect a lateral shifting of the several flukes into the soil. During-this operation, each spreader arm, due to the necks formed therein, bends to accommodate the new positions of the several flukes. This provision constitutes a very important feature of my invention, because it permits the use of sheet metal spreaders, as contrasted with the more expensive castings heretofore employed for this purpose, and also obviates the necessity for the also more expensive pivotal or knuckle connection between the spreader arms and flukes and driving heads, respectively.

- It will be understood that although the necks 34 and 36 constitute sections of reduced crosssectionalarea relative to the intermediate portions of the spreader arms, sufiicient metal remains tosatisfactoril transmit the required thrust. For example, in spreader arms formed from sheet metal having a thickness of of an inch, it has been ascertained that approximately 50% reduction in section at the necks, relative to the intermediate and wider portion of the arm, will provide for the required bending of the necks during. expansion and will at the same time efficiently transmit the required thrust without buckling.

It will be obvious that my improved earth anchor is characterized by ease, rapidity and cheapness of assembly, as well as manufacture of the component parts. The dishing of the base member insures adequate strength of this important element of the anchor, since an earth anchor is literally no stronger than its base member. Further, by the use or sheet metal flukes, and the simple welding attachment of the spreader arms thereto adjacent the peripheries of the nukes, it is possible to provide an earth anchor that is characterized by minimum earth resistance at the ends of the flukes. In effect, each fluke is provided with a knife-like cutting edge.

The welding of the upper ends of the spreader arms not only providesan adequate driving head for the tamping bar, but also provides a substantial bearing on the guy rod and thus prevents cooking of the head during. driving. Finally, the welding of the eye portions of the spreader arms together only necessitates the use of a single rib on the lower fluke for guidance by the base member. By this provision, the lower fluke is held against rotary movement and since its spreader arm is welded to this fluke as well as to the other spreader arms, the other spreader arms are held against movement around the guy rod and by reason of their securement to their respective flukes, the latter are also restrained against similar movement. The relation of the spreader arms to the fiukes and guy rod is such that the anchor is effectivel locked against collapse in all positions of the flukes.

I claim:

1. An earth anchor comprising in combination, a base member, a rod operably related to the member, a plurality of fiukes supported on the member one above the other for radial movements transverse to the axis of the rod, the lower fluke only being guided by the member, and a spreader arm for each fluke, one end of each arm being fixed to its associated fluke and each opposite end being apertured to receive the rod, said opposite ends being arranged in superimposed relation and secured directly to each other to provide a driving head and acting in conjunction with the guidance provided by the lower fluke to constrain the uppermost flukes to move radially during extension.

2. An earth anchor comprising in combination, a base member, a rod operably related to the member, a plurality of flukes supported on the member one above the other for radial movements transverse to the axis of the rod, the lowor fluke only being guided by the member, and a sheet metal, spreader arm for each fluke, one end of each arm being fixed to its associated fluke and each opposite end being apertured to receive the rod, said opposite ends being arranged in superimposed relation and secured directly to each other to provide a driving head and acting in conjunction with the guidance provided by the lower fluke to constrain the uppermost fiukes to move radially during extension, each arm having thrust transmitting sections adjacent its ends respectively which bend during extension of the 3. In earth anchor construction of the radially extensible multifiuke type,,the combination of a plurality of sheet metal, spreader arms, the outer end of each arm being rigidly connected to a companion fluke and the inner ends being disposed in abutting relation to provide a driving head, each arm bending intermediate its ends when the head is actuated to extend the iiukes.

4. In earth anchor construction of the radially extensible multifluke type having a guy rod, the combination of a plurality of flat, sheet metal, spreader arms, the outer end of each am being rigidly connected to a companion fluke and the inner ends being perforated. and disposed in abutting relation to provide a driving head and to receive the guy rod as a guide, and each arm having reduced neck portions adjacent its ends which bend when the arm is actuated to extend the associated fluke.

5. An earth anchor comprising in combination, a base member, a rod operably related to the member, a plurality of flukes supported on the member one above the other, the lower fluke only being guided by the member for radial movement transverse to the axis of the rod, and a sheet metal, spreader arm for each fluke, one end of each arm being fixed to its associated fluke and the opposite ends being secured to each other and guided by the rod whereby the guidance of the lower fluke constrains the upper fiukes to move radially during the extension, each arm having thrust transmitting sections adjacent its ends, respectively, which bend during extension of the fiukes.

6. An earth anchor comprising in combination, a base member, a rod operably related to the member, a plurality of sheet metal flukes sup-- ported on the member one above the other and presenting knifelike. cutting edges to the earth, the lower fluke only being guided by the member for radial movement transverse to the axis of the rod, and a sheet metal spreader arm for each fluke, one end of each arm being fixed to its associated fluke and the opposite ends being secured to each other and guided by the rod, whereby the guidance of the lower fluke constrains the upper flukes to move radially during extension, each alrm having thrust transmitting sections adijacent its ends, respectively, which bend during extension of the fiukes, the arms and fiukes having substantially the same thickness and the fiuke attaching portion of each arm being fiat whereby the entrance of the fiukes into the earth is not substantially retarded by the increase in thickness in the regions where the arms are joined to the flukes.

'7. An earth anchor comprising in combination, a base member, a rod operably related to the member, a plurality of flukes supported on the member one above the other, the lower fluke only being guided by the member for radial movement transverse to the axis of the rod, and a sheet metal spreader arm for each fluke, one end of each arm being fixed to its associated fluke and the opposite ends being guided by the rod and held against relative movement whereby the guidance of the lower fluke constrains the upper flukes to move radially during extension, each arm having adjacent its ends thrust transmitting. sections of reduced cross-sectional area relative to the main portion of the arm, the sections bending during extension of the iiulres.

8. An earth anchor comprising in combination, a base member, a rod operably related to the member, a plurality of flat flukes supported on the member one above the other, the lower fluke having a guide rib welded to its under side for engagement with a slot formed in the member so that the lower fluke moves radially and transversely to the rod, and a sheet metal, spreader arm for each fluke, one end of each arm being fixed to its associated fluke and the opposite ends being secured to each other and guided by the rod, whereby the guidance of the lower fluke constrains the upper flukes to move radially during extension, each arm having thrust transmitting sections adjacent its ends, respectively, which bend during extension of the fiukes.

9. An earth anchor comprising in combination, a base member, a rod operably related to the member, a plurality of sheet metal flukes supp d on the member one above the other and presenting knifelike cutting edges to the earth, the lower fluke having a portion guidable in a slot formed in the member so that the lower fluke is guided radially and transversely to the axis of the rod by the base member, and a sheet metal, spreader arm for each fluke, one end of each arm being fixed to its associated fluke and the opposite ends being secured to each other and guided by the rod whereby the guidance of the lower fluke constrains the upper flukes to move radially during extension, each arm having thrust transmitting neck portions adjacent its ends, respectively, which bend during extension of the connected fluke.

10-. In earth anchor construction of the radially extensible fiuke type having a guy rod, a sheet metal, spreader arm rigidly connected at its ends to a fluke and a part guided by the rod, respectively, the arm bending intermediate its ends to accommodate its changes of position when actuated to extend the fluke.

11. In earth anchor construction of the radially extensible fluke type having a guy rod, a sheet metal, spreader arm rigidly connected at its ends to a fluke and a part guided by the rod, respectively, and having thrust transmitting neck portions adjacent its ends, which bend to accommodate changes in position of the arm when actuated to extend the fluke.

12. In earth anchor construction of the radially extensible fluke type having a guy rod and characterized by movement of the fluke in the plane thereofwhen the anchor is conditioned for anchorage, a sheet metal, spreader arm having ends rigidly connected to a fluke and guided by the rod, respectively, and bending intermediate the ends to accommodate its changes of position when actuated to extend the fluke.

DONALD E. WILLARD. 

